Get Flu Shot or Get Out?

[sorraia]

Exposure to mercury through ingesting fish is a very different kind of exposure than that through injection, and the amount of mercury actually absorbed and utilized by your body is likely going to be very different. The amount of mercury that can be "safely" injected is also going to be different than the amount of mercury that can "safely" be ingested. The "safety levels" currently declared for fish refer only to ingestion, not injection.

I had to look up the comparison of mercury in flu vaccine vs fish. Used information from the CDC.

Flu vaccine contains 25mcg/0.5mL, and one vaccine is a 0.5mL dose, so that's 25mcg mercury injected into the person's body.

The amount of mercury contained in fish varies, but using median level of mercury concentration:
catfish = 0.005ppm = 0.002mg/lb
salmon = 0.015ppm = 0.007mg/lb
tilapia = 0.004ppm = 0.002mg/lb
trout = 0.025ppm = 0.011mg/lb
tuna = 0.078ppm = 0.035mg/lb

Assuming the person eats 1/2lb of fish in one serving, the amount of mercury consumed:
catfish = 0.001mg
salmon = 0.0035mg
tilapia = 0.001mg
trout = 0.0055mg
tuna = 0.0175mg

Compare that to the vaccine:
25mcg = 0.025mg


So if a person eats 8 ounces of these fish, they are consuming less mercury than is injected in one flu vaccine. IF a person eats fish 3 times a week, they may consume more mercury than is injected, depending on the type of fish consumed. I don't know how many people consume fish 3 times a week, I only know that I personally don't eat fish that often (I'm probably lucky if I consume fish once a week).

All of that is of course assuming mercury consumed affects a person the same way it does when injected. Most likely it doesn't, since most substances have a different effect depending on their mode of exposure. I don't know off hand of any comprehensive (and valid) studies that have looked into this. Not arguing about it one way or another, just wanted to give out the numbers I found, because I thought it was interesting.

It is up to each individual person (assuming their profession doesn't require it) to decide what is best for them and their bodies. Personally, I choose not to get the flu vaccine (for multiple reasons), nor give it to my child (again for multiple reasons). I have never received the flu vaccine, even when I was pregnant. There are other vaccines I have chosen to receive or give to my child (and my child's pediatrician only orders thimerosal-free vaccines). That's the choice I've made, and it may be different from the choice others make.